European Tour will review Ryder Cup qualifying again

LEMONT, Ill. – Paul Casey expects the European Tour to consider changes to its Ryder Cup qualifying system again in its fall meetings.

Casey was controversially left off the European squad after he failed to qualify on points. Though he’s among the top 10 players in the world rankings (No. 9), he wasn’t among Colin Montgomerie’s three captain’s picks. Casey also happens to be among 15 players on the European Tour Tournament Committee.

The qualifying system in place now takes the first four players off the World Rankings Points List and the next five not already named off the European Tour Points List.

Casey believes European Tour officials should consider flipping the system to include the top five off the World Points List and the next four not already named off the European Tour Points List.

“It will come up,” Casey said. “That would have taken care of a lot.”

Basically, with a change that favors the world rankings, Edoardo Molinari would have made the team off the World Points List instead of as a captain’s pick. That would have created room for Casey to be named a captain’s pick. But under that new system, Sweden’s Peter Hanson is likely left off the team. He made this year’s team as the fifth player off the European Tour Points List. The change, however, wouldn’t have addressed Justin Rose being left off the team if Casey became a captain’s pick.

Flipping the system to favor the world rankings controversially gives less support to European Tour regulars.

“I think with guys like [Martin] Kaymer, [Graeme] McDowell and possibly others in the near future joining the PGA Tour, we could have a situation where, what are we going to do?” Casey said. “I understand the European Tour wants to protect the European Tour, but we also want to get the best team possible.”

Casey believes the timing of captain's picks announcements must also be addressed. He was in the middle of the final round of The Barclays when he awkwardly figured out he wasn't one of Montgomerie's captain's picks. He saw Padraig Harrington's wife give Harrington an enthusiastic thumb's up on the sixth hole. Luke Donald shot 28 on the front nine at The Barclays and immediately made two bogeys after hearing he was a captain's pick.